With one of the most ambitious and large-scale nuclear power development projects, China has launched an innovative concept of promoting ‘nuclear tourism’ by throwing open select nuclear power plants across the country to visitors.

According to a press statement by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), the country’s largest atomic electricity generator, it has opened an online booking system to allow tourists to plan visits to nine nuclear power stations across the country. The move comes as part of its aim to ‘shore up support for a sector key to its clean energy ambitions.’

The first nuclear power industry tourism group debuts in Ningde

The announcement about throwing open its nuclear power plants was  made during ‘Nuclear Travel Exploring the Green Future’, an event organised by CGN on August 7 at the Ningde Nuclear Power Base in Fujian province. 

The event officially launched the first nuclear power industrial tourism reservation system in China, and the nine nuclear power bases of CGN fully opened reservation channels to the public. 

In addition to providing a boost to local tourism, CGN is hoping the initiative can enhance public trust in the nuclear sector by sharing information on topics like radiation and safety controls.

Public backing for the sector will be important as China expands its nuclear power production to help meet its target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2060. China is currently building 30 nuclear reactors, accounting for nearly half of the global construction pipeline.

The country’s first nuclear power industry tourism reservation system “Hardcore Walk” is officially launched

CGN says its nuclear power plants have received more than one million visitors so far. In order to further open up and be transparent and facilitate the public to make reservations for visits, on the day of the event, CGN and the local cultural and tourism bureaus of its nine nuclear power bases jointly launched the country’s first ‘Nuclear Power Industrial Tourism Reservation System’, which has two channels, ‘individual reservation’ and ‘group reservation’.

“Fangchenggang has rich tourism resources. Among them, nuclear power plant visits, as an important window to showcase the achievements of modern industry and popular science education, are gradually becoming a new highlight to attract tourists,” says Lan Jingwen, Deputy Director of the Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Fangchenggang City in Guangxi province.

He says that by building an efficient management system, the resources of industrial tourism projects such as nuclear power plants can be more effectively integrated to ensure that every tourist can enjoy a professional, safe and educational travel experience.

The statement adds that the company has also published a booklet of tourist information, including hand-drawn guide maps for the facilities.

“Nuclear power industrial tourism not only provides the public with unique experience opportunities, but also has a significant driving effect on the local economy. Take Yujing Village as an example. During the Spring Festival in 2023, with the help of nuclear power industrial tourism, the number of tourists received by the village exceeded 30,000, and the economic income was about CNY 5 million (USD 697,000),” says Shi Liying, Deputy Director of the Fuding City Cultural and Sports Development Centre.  

The launch of the nuclear power industrial tourism reservation system is ‘a beneficial attempt to deeply integrate nuclear power with local tourism resources, which will make positive contributions’ to the local industries, says the statement. It adds that officials beckoned visitors to visit its four CPR-1000 reactors along with nearby fragrant white tea gardens.
Another option offered was heading to Guangxi’s Fangchenggang station, where “majestic” Hualong One reactors sit near famous tourist islands home to the Jing ethnic minority. 

Officials also claimed the San’ao generator being built near Wenzhou’s coastline has become a popular photo backdrop for social media influencers.

“Ningde Nuclear Power began to explore industrial tourism in 2017. After years of exploration and optimisation, it has now jointly launched more reasonable and richer industrial tourism routes with local cultural and tourism departments. It is hoped that the public can experience the beauty of industry in nuclear power tours and the beauty of nature and culture in surrounding tours, making nuclear power industrial tourism a unique experience,” says CGN in its press statement.